Seattle Seahawks’ GM John Schneider chose eleven new players in the 2025 NFL draft. Most made the 53-man roster, while a few of the later round picks ended up on the practice squad. It seemed likely from the jump that the first two picks, Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanrwori, were destined to have major roles in their rookie seasons.
The third player Schneider chose, University of Miami [tight end Elijah Arroyo](https://12thmanrising.com/took-one-play-seattle-seahawks-rookie-start-making-serious-noise-camp), had a less defined role. On the one hand, Arroyo was taken with the 50th overall pick, and players selected that high are expected to contribute very quickly.
But Seattle already had receiving tight end Noah Fant and 2024 draft pick A.J. Barner under contract, so perhaps the plan was to bring Arroyo along more slowly.
Then, Fant was released, and Arroyo was elevated into the primary flex tight end role, [while Barner handled more](https://12thmanrising.com/seattle-seahawks-breakout-star-league-no-idea) of the in-line blocking assignments. At least, that appeared to be the plan. After one game, everything is once again undefined.
Is Seattle Seahawks rookie Elijah Arroyo due for a breakout?
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Arroyo was a non-factor against the 49ers in Week 1. He was on the field for just 16 snaps (to Barner’s 44), and saw just one target. He caught that ball for a seven-yard gain. Veteran Eric Saubert, ostensibly TE3, saw almost as many snaps as the rookie.
That has to change if Seattle’s offense is going to look more dynamic than what was shown against San Francisco. Klint Kubiak’s first game as offensive coordinator generated a mere 230 yards of total offense and 4.6 yards per play. That’s almost 100 yards per game and a full yard-per-play behind last year’s pace, when the offense was considered a major weakness.
San Fran has a good defense, but they are breaking in a lot of young players. Seattle should have been better prepared to move the ball.
One of the major failures in Week 1 came on third down, where the Hawks managed a conversion rate of just 30%. For comparison, only one team in the NFL converted at a lower rate last season. That was the Cleveland Browns, whose number was 29.5% The Seahawks weren’t very good last year, but they did manage a 37.6% conversion rate.
That is how drives end. That is why San Francisco had an almost two-to-one time of possession advantage, and it may help explain why the Hawks’ defense collapsed in the final moments.
Tight ends can be a major factors in converting third downs. Many of the league’s best, Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, are among the league leaders in gaining first downs. Last season, Sam Darnold relied on his tight end, T.J. Hockenson, to the tune of three first downs per game.
Darnold needs production from his tight end. Barner can provide this on shorter routes, but Arroyo can strike from anywhere on the field. Throughout the entire offseason, we heard glowing reports about highlight-reel catches.
Fellow rookie Emmanwori said Arroyo is a matchup nightmare because he is 6’5”, 254 pounds, but runs routes like a wide receiver. At the same time, head coach Mike Macdonald referred to the tight end group as the offense’s “silent engine.”
With a trip to Pittsburgh coming up and the threat of beginning the season 0-2 a distinct possibility, it is time for this “silent” part of the offense to make some noise. Seattle got absolutely nothing out of the receivers after Jaxon Smith-Njigba last Sunday. The offense didn’t run the ball well at all.
Those things need to improve, but getting more dynamic plays from the tight end spots is just as crucial. That has to come from Arroyo. He needs more snaps, more targets and more impact plays.
Last year, Pittsburgh surrendered the fourth most receptions and the eleventh most yards to opposing tight ends. In Week 1, the Steelers' opponent, the New York Jets, barely targeted tight ends.
As with the Seahawks, one player – WR Garrett Wilson – dominated the target share. But it is worth noting that the three times Justin Fields threw to tight ends against Pittsburgh, each play resulted in a first down.
Seattle needs that kind of production and involving Elijah Arroyo in a bigger way is one step in that direction.